To a Lady That Desired I Would Show Affection
Since you've bestowed me leave to love,
What will you do?
Will I your delight, or passion stir,
As I commence woo;
Shall you torment, or scorn, or love me too?
Every minor beauty can reject, and I
In spite of your hate
Lacking your leave can observe, and succumb;
Bestow a grander Fate!
It is effortless to ruin, you could fashion.
Thus grant me consent to love, & love me too
Without design
To uplift, as Loves accursed insurgents do
When whining Poets whine,
Acclaim to their charm, from their weeping gaze.
Sorrow is a puddle and reflects not bright
One's charm's beams;
Joyes are clear currents, your eyes seem
Gloomy in sadder layes,
Within happy lines they radiate bright with praise.
Which may not allude to portray you fair
Harms, flames, and darts,
Tempests in your forehead, snares in your hair,
Bribing all your features,
Or to deceive, or torment ensnared affections.
I will cause your gaze like sunrise suns appear,
Like gentle, and fair;
Thy countenance as glass smooth, and transparent,
Whereas your unkempt hair
May drift like a tranquil Zone of the Ayr.
Wealthy The natural world's hoard (which is the Poet’s Wealth)
I will expend, to adorn
Your beauties, if your Wellspring of Delight
With matching thankfulness
You but release, so we each other favor.
Examining the Work's Themes
The piece examines the relationship of love and praise, as the poet engages with a lady who desires his devotion. Rather, he offers a reciprocal exchange of poetic praise for personal delights. This language is graceful, blending polished conventions with frank statements of desire.
In the lines, the author rejects common themes of unrequited passion, such as grief and weeping, stating they cloud true grace. The speaker favors delight and acclaim to showcase the woman's features, promising to portray her eyes as radiant suns and her locks as flowing air. This method highlights a realistic yet clever view on bonds.
Significant Aspects of the Work
- Mutual Exchange: The work centers on a suggestion of admiration in exchange for enjoyment, emphasizing equality between the persons.
- Spurning of Conventional Themes: The speaker condemns usual poetic tools like sadness and similes of pain, preferring positive imagery.
- Artistic Craftsmanship: The employment of varied line lengths and flow demonstrates the writer's expertise in poetry, creating a smooth and compelling text.
Abundant Nature's treasury (which is the Poet’s Riches)
I shall use, to adorn
One's beauties, if your Source of Joy
In equal appreciation
You but open, so we one another favor.
This section encapsulates the core arrangement, in which the author promises to employ his inventive abilities to praise the lady, in return for her willingness. This phraseology combines devout overtones with physical desires, adding profundity to the verse's meaning.